I don’t ever recall a high profile concert in aid of schizophrenia, and I doubt we’ll see Sir Bob Geldof (pictured) organising one any time soon – yet its symptoms can be devastating.

Dr Ian Davidson, representing the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust, said in response: "It’s too early for any consideration to be given to the possible impacts", but "patient care is always our highest priority".

It is, in fact, such a "high priority" that there are now only a handful of beds available for long term care from the 1,000 previously provided by Parkside Hospital.

Under the guise of ‘care in the community’, facilities for the mentally ill have been devastated.

Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust has promised to do the right thing by these desperate families and not reorganise the outreach service into oblivion.

Barlow’s Brief will be watching.

The views on this page are those of Vic Barlow and not necessarily those of the Express